Devices for connecting desk tops together



Aug- 21, 1956 E. lan-:RGMAN- 2,759,779

DEVICES FOR .CONNECTINGDESKITOPS TOGETHER Filed March 30, 1951.1.

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INVENTOR. Eo'fPGMA/v BY Q A TT ORNE Y United States Patent Of ice DEVICES FOR CONNECTIN TOGETHER DESK Tops Ed Bergman, New York, Y., assigner tohArtl'Slteel Sales Corporation, `New York, N. Y.,"a corporation of New `York p p Application March so, 1954, sean No. 419,709

` s claims. (ci. er1-+4) v This-invention relates to knock-down oflicefequipmeiit. In rnyprior copending application S3. N. 354,681.2, yiiled May 13, 1953, entitled Knock-Down Ofce Equipment,

there is disclosed a device of the character-,described and Vcomprising a pair of desk tops detachably connected to one another. The desk tops are of different lengths andthe end of the shorter desk top is connected tothe 'side of the longerdesk top adjacent the end ofthe latter.

The attaching means is disclosed in said prior application g as comprising a pair of Z-shaped bracketseach Secured to the end `of the shorter desk top and connected to a y" 2,759,779 Patented Aug. 21, 195e Other objects and advantages of the present invention are inherent in the structure as claimed and disclosed or will becomeV apparent to those skilled in the art as the detailed description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings` wherein: A l p Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the desk equipment and shows a `pair of desk tops connected to each other in assembled relation;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the equipment;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionalv view on line 43-3 of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

`Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and v 4 Fig. 6 Yis a perspective view of the novel securing bracket which has been substituted for the Z-shaped bracket and channel bracket of said prior application.

Referring now to the drawing in more detail, the reference numeral 10 indicates office equipment embodying 'the present invention. It is to be` understood that the arrangement of the equipment 10 is merely illustrative of one of the many arrangements possible since by the addition of other component parts similar to those described herein, the'equipment may be built up and eX- tended to make various other arrangements. The particular arrangement illustrated in the drawing is merely illustrative for purposes of explanation and description substituted therefor and are provided with a novel shape to coact with the structureof the `desk tops so as to con-v nectthe latter in assembled relation but 'permittingthem to be quickly and easily disconnected when: so desired.

. This means for attaching the two desk 'topsin assembled relation is of extreme importance in the `mode of marketing the equipment and its manner of useby the a` cter described and `comprising avpair of separate desk tops together with a novel means for quickly,l simply,` and easily connecting the two desk tops together in assentbled relation.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described wherein the connecting means comprises a single integral unitary bracket having.l meansj for detachably attaching an end of one of these desk tops to a side of the other desk top. `V y Still another object is to provide equipment of the character described whereinthe desktops may be connected to each other in any selected one of severi-alpes'- sible arrangements employing two, three, or even more of said desk tops in various attached assembled relations. Another object is to provide oti'ice .equipment of the character described which may be easily assembleari by thefpurchaser or user without special' tools or'skills, and which may be readily disassembled, andwhich shall be strong and rugged and yet relatively inexpensiveto manufacture, and which shallfbe high t degree` in use.

practicaly and efficient to 'a and to build it up further requires merely the duplication `oraddition of some of the component parts disclosed herein. Q Since the novelty of the present invention over `the equipment disclosed in said prior copending application resides solely in the means for securing the desk tops together in assembled relation, only that portion of the present equipment which directly coacts with the novel securing means is disclosed in the present application, reference being made to said prior application for a more detailed description of the equipment as a whole. I t will further be noted that those parts of the present appli,- cation which are identical to equivalent parts of said prior application are given the same reference numerals to aid in referring to said prior application for a fuller comprehension of many of the structural details of the equipment 1,0 which may be only briey described in the present application.

A The equipment 10 comprises a pair of desk tops l5.0 and of substantially identical construction except that desk top 50 is somewhat shorter than .desk top 140. Each of the desk tops 50, 140 comprises a desk top panel S1 of sheet metal and including a top wall 52 of rectangular shape. Extending `downwardly from the front and rear ends of`top wall 52 are front and rear walls 55 at both opposite ends of each desk top 50, 140. It will be noted that both desk tops 50, 140 are of rectangular shape and are somewhat elongated whereby the ends referred to throughout the specification and claims designates the shorter pair of the four edges of the rectangle and the sides referred to indicate two longer edges thereof.

Extending downwardly from both sides of top wall 52 are a pair of vertical walls S3. The lower ends of the latter are integrally formed with horizontal flanges 54 which extend inwardly toward the center line of desk i tops 50, 140. Flanges 54 of desk top 50 are formed adjacent the opposite ends thereof and at the inner edges' thereof with shallow longitudinal notches 56. The flanges 54 of desk top 140 are similarly formed with a plurality of notches 56 both at the end portions and throughout intermediate portions thereof.

Welded or otherwise secured to desk tops 50, 1'40 Aare i upwardly' and outwardly a series of angle members 63 each of which is located in alignment with a respective one of the notches 56. Each angle member 63 comprises a vertical llange portion 64 abutting against side wall 53 and a horizontal llange portion 65 lying in superimposed relation to ange 54. As shown in Fig. 3, the inner end 65' of horizontal nange portion 65' is coextensive with the rectilinear edge 56 of its respective notch $6.

Attached to the underside of top Wall 52 of each of the desk tops U, 140 are a pair of similar, symmetrically disposed elongated stileners 'fill formed of sheet metal and each comprising an outer flange 71 contacting the underside of top wall 52. Extending downwardly from ange 71 is a wall 72 from which a horizontal wall 73 extends inwardly. Extending downwardly from wall 73 is a wall 74 from which extends inwardly another `horizontal wall 75. Extending upwardly from wall 75 is a vertical wall 76 and extending from the Alatter is a ange 77 welded to top wall 52. The stiieners 70 extend the entire length of desk tops 50, 140 substantially to the end walls 55 thereof.

Each of the bottom horizontal walls 75 of stineners i 70 is formed adjacent the opposite ends thereof with a short upwardly pressed substantially rectangular wall portion 78 in the form of a raised rectangular boss or projection. Each of the wall portions 78 is formed with an elongated rectangular opening 79. Slidably mounted on the upper surface of wallportion 78 at said opening 79 is a nut holder 80 in which is rotatably mounted a nut 81 the function of which will be described below.

As shown in Fig. 2, one end of the shorter desk top 50 is provided with a planar downwardly extending leg panel 100 having a pair of gliders 111 mounted to opposite sides of the lower edge thereof for engagement with the hoor surface to support said end of desk top 50 at the conventional height above the iloor. Both opposite ends of the longer desk top 140 are similarly pro- 'vided with leg panels 100 having gliders 111, only one of the ends of desk top 140 being shown in Fig. 2 for clarity and economy in illustration. For information as to further structural details' of leg panels 100, reference is hereby made to said prior copending application S. N. 354,682.

The end of the shorter desk top 50 may be attached to the side of the longer desktop 140 in any selected one of several predetermined positions along the latter. In addition, several desk tops 50 may be connected to a single desk top 140 at several positions and at the same or opposite sides of desk top 140 or, if desirable in View of the functional requirements and space facilities of the parextending inclined portion 5 from which extends the inwardly and upwardly extending inclined portion 6. Flange portion 2 is provided with an opening 7 extending therethrough.

When the end of desk top 50 is connected in assembled relation to a side of desk top 140, flange portion 2 of bracket 1 abuis against the undersurface of bottom wall 75 of stiffener 70, it being understood that each of the brackets 1 is associated with a respective one of the two stiffeners 70 of desk top 50. The opening 7 of each` bracket 1 is in register with a respective one of the slots 79 and receives a screw 150 engaged by nut 81. It will be obvious that when nut 81 is rotated, screw 150 will be drawn upwardly thereby so as to clamp flange portion 2' against theunderside of bottom wall 75. It will also be seen that the position of each bracket 1 relative to the endwall 55 .of ydesk top 50 may be adjustedby sliding nut holder 80 within slot 79 before iixedly clamping bracket 1 thereto by rotation of nut 81.

Web portion 4 extends below and engages the lower edge 55 of the adjacent end wall 55 and also the underside of flange 54 of the other desk top 140. The inclined portion `5 of each bracket 1 extends upwardly through a respective oneof the notches 56 formed in the adjacent iiange 54 of desk top 140. The upper inclined portion 6 of each bracket 1 resiliently engages the inner end of the horizontal flange portion 65 of the respective of desk top 140 in asembled abutting relation against the adjacent'end Wall 5S of the other desk top 50.

Since a plurality of notches 56 are provided along both flange portions 54 of desk top 140, it will be obvious that other desk tops may be secured thereto in a similar manner. Also, since the ends of desk top 140 are constructed similarly to the ends of desk top'50, and side flanges 54 of desk top 50 are also provided with notches S6, desk top 140 or others identical thereto may have ends connected to either side of the shorter desk top 50.

It will thus be seen that the present invention utilizes a single bracket 1 in place of the Z-shaped bracket 145 and the channel bracket 160 shown in Fig. 18 of said prior copending application S. N. 354,682. By this substitution, the present invention provides a simpler, more economical, and more rigid means for securing the desk ticular oflice in which the equipment 10 is to be installed,

the ends of desk top 140 may be attached to either side of the shorter desk top 50 in any one of several possible arrangements. It will thus be seen that a plurality of desk tops 5l), 140 may be assembled in many different Ways to provide assembled desk structures of various sizes and shapes. For purposes of illustration and comprehension of the present invention, there is shown in the drawing merely one of the simpler arrangements in which one end of the shorter desk top 50 is connected to the side of the longer desk top 140 adjacent the end of the latter, it being understood that the scope of the invention as delineated in the appended claims is not to be so limited unless expressly 'so recited therein.

f The means for securing the desk top $0 to desk top 140 comprises a pair of securing brackets indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. Each of the brackets 1 is in the form of an integral unitary element comprising a horizontally extending web portion 4 having an up- Wa'rdly extending wall portion 3 along one edge thereof. The upper edge of wall portion 3 is formed .integral with a horizontally extending flange portion 2, the latter having outwardly converging lateral sides at 2'. The ope. posite edge of web portion 4 Vis formed integral withal;

tops 50, 140 in assembled relation and which also permits 'the desk tops 50, 140 to be attached or detached from each other with less time and difficulty during the assembly operation when the equipment 10 is being set up in the oce of the purchaser.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing and described above is merely illustrative of one of the many forms which the invention may take in practice without departing from the scope of the invention as delineated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a rst elongated desk top, a sec ond elongated desk top in the plane of the rst desk top and at right angles thereto, means to detachably attach one end of the rst desk top to a side of the second desk top adjacent one end of the latter, said means to detachably attach the desk tops to each other comprising a single unitary integral bracket having a horizontally extending ilange portion at one end thereof, the opposite end of said'bracket having a recessed portion, said first desk top having at the underside thereof a horizontal'porton 'lying in abutting relation against said flange portion, means for releasably connecting said ange portion to said rst desk top horizontal underside portion,

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mounting said nut to said horizontal undersideportion for adjustingmovement towardand away from one end of the irst'desk top, and a screw attached to said liangeportion and engageable within said nut, said horizontal underside portion having Ya longitudinal slot therethrough extending `transversely ofsaid one end of the first desk top, a nut holderreciprocally slidable in said slot,` said nut being rotatably mounted in said nut holder, said releasably attachable means comprising a recessed portion at the opposite end of said bracket, said second desk top having along said side thereof an inwardly projecting liange engaged within said bracket recessed portion, said bracket recessed portion comprising an upwardly inwardly inclined section integral at its upper inner end with an upwardly outwardly inclined section, said sections forming a receded groove therebetween receiving an inner edge of said flange of the second desk top, said bracket having a web portion adjacent said recessed portion and integral therewith, said web portion engaging said flange of the second desk top, lsaid flange of the second desk top having a notch extending inwardly from the inner edge thereof, said inclined sections of the bracket extending upwardly through said notch to receive -an edge of the latter in said recessed groove, said flange of the second desk top having a plurality of said notches therein spaced along the length thereof, said bracket reces-sed portion being engageable with a selected one of said notches to connect the first desk to any one of several positions along the side of the second desk top.

2. In combination, a irst desk top, a second desk top, means to detachably attach one end of the first desk top to a side of the second desk top, said means comprising a single unitary integral bracket having a horizontally extending iiange portion at one end thereof, the opposite end of said bracket having a recessed portion, said rst desk top having at the underside thereof a horizontal portion lying in abutting relation against said flange portion, means for releasably connecting said iiange portion to said first desk top 'horizontal underside portion, said bracket having at the opposite end thereof means releasably attachable to said side of the second desk top, said releasably connecting means comprising a nut, means mounting said nut to said horizontal underside portion for adjusting movement toward and away from said one end of the first desk top, and a screw attached to said flange portion and engageable within said nut, said releasably attachable means comprising a recessed portion at the opposite end of said bracket, said second desk top having along said side thereof an inwardly projecting flange engaged within said bracket recessed portion, said horizontal underside portion having a longitudinal slot therethrough extending transversely of said one end of the lirst desk top, a nut holder reciprocally slidable in said slot, said nut being rotatably mounted in said nut holder, said bracket recessed portion cornprising an upwardly inwardly inclined section integral at its upper inner end with an upwardly outwardly inclined section, said sections forming a recessed groove therebetween receiving an inner -edge of said flange of the second desk top, said bracket having a web portion adjacent said recessed portion and integral therewith, said web portion engaging said flange of the second desk top, said flange of the second desk top having a notch extending inwardly from the inner edge thereof, said inclined sections of the bracket extending upwardly through said notch to receive an edge of the latter in said recessed groove, said flange of the second desk top having a plurality of said notches therein spaced along the length thereof, said bracket recessed portion being engageable with any selected one of said notches to connect the tirst desk to any one of several positions along the side of the second desk top. y

3. Structural means for connecting two desk tops comprising a pair of brackets each having a horizontally extending web portion, a vertical portion integral with and a ange portion` integral with and vextending horizontally outwardly from the upper edge of said vertical por tion in` a direction away from said-webportiomafrst inclined portion integral with andV extendingupwardly and outwardly from the oppositeedge of saidweb portion inra Ydirection approximately `opposite said-first` direction,` and a second inclined portion integralrwith and extending upwardly and inwardly from the I'upper outer edge of said first inclined portion in a direction approximately transverse to the latter, said ange portion having an opening extending vertically therethrough, a first desk top comprising a horizontal planar top member having a vertical wall portion extending downwardly therefrom along one edge thereof, a second desk top comprising a horizontal planar top member having a vertical Wall portion extending downwardly along one edge thereof and abutting said rst-recited, wall portion, said second desk top wall portion having a ange integral with the lower edge thereof and extending horizontally inwardly away from said first-recited wall portion, a pair of stiifener members secured to the underside of said first desk top member and each comprising a horizontal portion spaced below said underside and having a longitudinal slot therethrough, said stiifener members and said slots extending transversely of said wall portions, each of said brackets being mounted to a respective one of said stiifener members with said flange portion thereof engaging the lower surface of the respective stiffener horizontal portion, said bracket web portions engaging the lower surface of said liange of the second desk top, the inner edge of said last-recited iiange extending between said bracket inclined portions, a pair of screws each extending upwardly through a respective one of said openings in said bracket flange portion, a pair of nut holders each slidably mounted in a respective one of said slots, a pair of nuts each rotatably mounted in a respective one of said nut holders and receiving a respective one of said screws in threaded engagement therewith.

4. In combination, a desk top comprising a top wall and a vertical wall extending downwardly therefrom, a second desk top having a top wall coplanar with the top wall of the first desk top, said second desk top having a vertical wall extending downwardly from its top wall and contacting the vertical wall of the first desk top, a ange extending from the lower end of the vertical wall of the second desk -top and disposed beneath the top wall of the second desk top, the lower edge of the vertical wall of the iirst desk top being at the level of the underside of said iiange, a stiiiener attached to the underside of the top wall of the first desk -top and having a wall spaced therebelow, a bracket for attaching said desk tops together, said bracket comprising a portion contacting the underside of said wall of said stiifener, a portion disposed beneath the lower edge of the vertical wall of the iirst desk top and beneath said iiange, a hook portion extending from said last mentioned portion and engaging around the outer edge of said flange, and releasable means for attaching the first portion of said bracket -to said wall of said stiffener in adjusted positions in a direction at right angles to said vertical walls, said wall of said stiffener being located at a level above the lower edge of said vertical wall of said irst desk top, and said bracket having an intermediate portion between its iirst and second portions and extending upwardly from the second portion to the iirst portion.

5. The combination of claim 4, said releasably attaching means comprising a screw passing through an opening in the first portion of said bracket and through a slot formed in said wall of said stiffener and extending at right angles to said vertical walls, and a nut engaged by said screw and mounted for sliding movement at said slot.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of ythis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Quinn f Jan. 21, 1908 Nail Ian. 5, 1909 Sedaj Dec. 31, l1912 Langdon Sept. 15, 1914 Langdon May 18, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1913 

